When recently-signed former academy product Bryan de la Fuente knocked in his first career goal Wednesday night in Chivas USA’s home loss against FC Dallas, it served as personal validation for the hard work and difficult road traveled by the midfielder to return to the Rojiblancos’ First Team.

It also served as proof to his academy teammates that they too could go from academy and Reserve League matches to a spot with the Senior club with the proper development and performance. It was just last month that De la Fuente was part of the Red-and-White’s U-23 squad that was crowned state champs and now, after being without a club for most of 2012 and 2013, he is back with the team that gave him his professional debut in 2010.

For current academy players such as Jose Gomez, De la Fuente’s story is motivation to continue grinding and pursuing his soccer dreams. Gomez, a native of Santa Ana who played alongside De la Fuente with the U23s, tallied the equalizer in Thursday’s home friendly against UC Irvine and himself has been called in by the First Team for training sessions.

“It gives you confidence,” said Gomez, a graduate of Creighton University. “It’s motivation for me to see a guy who was playing with us in the U-23 actually got signed, played and scored. It shows if you keep working hard maybe your chance comes and you can show what you can do to the coaches.”

Gomez was a 2012 finalist for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the NCAA’s top soccer player. He also earned 2012 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2012 MVC Tournament MVP honors after helping the Bluejays claim their 13th Valley tournament championship. Though the midfielder was not signed by an MLS club out of college, he found an opportunity with Chivas’ newly-formed U23s and has made good on his chances as one of the squads more dangerous attacking players.

Gomez, 22, was among the 10 academy players who participated in the 2-1 win over UCi and shifted the game’s momentum in their favor shortly after entering the match.

“We came in wanting to get the tempo up and pressure and see if they could play out of it. I think we did a pretty good job. The goal came off of that – we pressured and we won the ball on their half and I was able to help out with a score,” Gomez added.

With the additions of De la Fuente, forward Caleb Calvert and defender Jaime Frias this season, combined with last year’s signing of midfielder Marco Delgado, four academy products have joined the First Team in the last two seasons. Gomez sees the additions as a positive for youngsters coming up in the Academy.

“It’s good for the club. Now kids are hopeful and going to train harder and have that motivation to one day be on the First Team. [The club tries] to give you opportunities and at the end it’s up to you to give the best of your ability,” Gomez concluded.